Guide · Caravan and camping ·
Caravan park booking: how to secure a summer site
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Caravan park booking for a summer stay works best when you start early, ask about the park's own rules and read the cancellation terms before you pay. Visit NSW tells travellers to reserve a cabin or campsite well in advance, particularly during school holidays.
This guide covers when to book, which site type to pick, what you pay up front, and how cancellation terms work.
Sources for this section: Visit NSW, Caravan and camping trip planning tips.
When to book
Book as soon as you know your dates. Summer school holidays, Christmas, New Year and the January long weekend are the busiest times at most parks. Visit NSW notes that some campgrounds have only a few spots, and says you do not want to be turned away.
Many parks also set rules for the busy weeks. Ingenia Holidays says special periods such as Christmas and Easter may need extra deposits. BIG4 lists 26 December to 31 January as a blackout period on its powered site pass for every park south of the Tropic of Capricorn. A blackout means the pass cannot be used on those dates, which shows how full parks expect to be. For that pass, BIG4 also suggests contacting a park as early as you can before arrival.
Sources for this section: Visit NSW, Caravan and camping trip planning tips; Ingenia Holidays, Terms and Conditions; BIG4 Holiday Parks, Terms and Conditions.
Pick the right site
Parks sell several kinds of stay. The right one depends on your van, your tent and your group. Ask the park what each type includes before you pay.
- Powered site: a spot with a power point. It suits most caravans and camper trailers.
- Unpowered site: a cheaper spot for tents and small trailers that do not need mains power.
- Cabin: a built room or unit. It suits families who do not tow or camp, and visitors who want a roof and a bed.
Visit NSW says to state any special request when you book, such as an accessible cabin or a powered campsite. Say it at the time of booking, not at the front desk. Also tell the park the length of your van, so it can match you to a site that fits.
Sources for this section: Visit NSW, Caravan and camping trip planning tips.
Deposits and payment
Most parks ask for money when you book. The amount differs from park to park, so read the terms on the booking page.
Ingenia Holidays says the first night is payable when you book on its standard rate. It adds that Christmas and Easter may need more. Some cheaper rates ask for the whole stay up front. Ingenia's advance purchase rate, for example, gives 20 per cent off its best flexible rate. In return, you must book at least 28 days ahead and pay in full, and the booking cannot be changed or cancelled without a penalty.
Two more rules are worth knowing. The name on the booking must match the name of the card holder, and the same person must check in. Ingenia also says it cannot refund money if you shorten your stay after you arrive.
Sources for this section: Ingenia Holidays, Terms and Conditions (page as archived on 2 December 2021).
Cancellation terms
Cancellation terms matter more than usual this summer. Border rules and COVID-19 cases have changed travel plans several times in the past two years, so look for a flexible option.
| Operator | What its terms say |
|---|---|
| Ingenia Holidays, best flexible rate | You can change or cancel until 24 hours before arrival. The deposit is refunded less a $50 admin fee. Inside 24 hours, the park may keep all money paid. |
| Ingenia Holidays, advance purchase rate | The full stay is paid up front. It cannot be cancelled, changed or adjusted without a penalty. |
| BIG4, COVID-19 flexible cancellation | For bookings made on BIG4.com.au, you can pick a new date or take a credit valid for up to 12 months in certain cases. |
BIG4 lists the cases that qualify. They include getting sick with COVID-19, being forced into self-isolation, waiting on a test result, or a government directive that stops you from travelling to or from your destination. You contact the park direct and may need to show proof. BIG4 adds that any cancellation outside the policy follows that park's usual terms, so check the page for the park you want.
BIG4 also has a Don't Stay Don't Pay promise. If you are not happy with the quality or standard of a park, you tell the front desk in person within an hour of arrival and do not use the facilities you booked. The park then refunds the money paid.
Ingenia notes that guests hit by COVID-19 can ask for more flexibility with changes or cancellations, and that its stay credits can be used within 24 months. Terms differ by park and by rate, so keep a copy of the terms you agreed to when you booked.
Sources for this section: Ingenia Holidays, Terms and Conditions (page as archived on 2 December 2021); BIG4 Holiday Parks, Terms and Conditions (page as archived on 16 November 2021).
Rules to check first
A few park rules can ruin a trip if you learn them too late. Check these before you pay.
- Pets: Visit NSW says to double check any restrictions with the holiday park before you set off.
- Check-in details: the booking name and the card holder must match, as Ingenia's terms state.
- Fire bans: check local fire danger levels and any bans before you light a campfire, as Visit NSW advises.
- Dump points: use an official dump point to empty waste from a caravan. Most parks have one on site.
If you plan to stay in a national park campground instead, Visit NSW says many of those run by the National Parks and Wildlife Service can be booked online, even when there is no fee. Domestic animals, except assistance dogs, are not allowed in national parks.
Sources for this section: Visit NSW, Caravan and camping trip planning tips; Ingenia Holidays, Terms and Conditions (page as archived on 2 December 2021).
A short booking checklist
- Pick your dates and a backup week.
- Choose the site type and note the length of your van.
- Ask about pets, extra Christmas deposits and minimum stays.
- Read the cancellation terms for the exact rate you pick.
- Save the confirmation and the terms you agreed to.
Rules, fees and conditions change, so check the park's own booking page before you pay.
Sources
- Visit NSW, Caravan and camping trip planning tips: visitnsw.com
- Ingenia Holidays, Terms and Conditions: ingeniaholidays.com.au
- BIG4 Holiday Parks, Terms and Conditions: big4.com.au